Networking Hardware Identify the functions of LAN connectivity hardware
Install and configure a NIC (Network Interface Card)
Identify problems associated with connectivity hardware Describe the factors involved in choosing a NIC, hub, switch, or router
Discuss the functions of repeaters, hubs, bridges, switches, routers, and gateways, and the OSI Model layers at which they operate
Describe the use and types of routing protocols

Uses of computer networks, network hardware, network software, reference models, example networks, example networks,... As the main contents of the document "Computer networks". Invite you to consult the document for more documents serving the academic needs and research.

Chapter summary: The network topology is the pattern used to connect computers and other devices with the cable or other network medium; the three primary LAN topologies are bus, star, and ring; UTP cable in the star topology is the most common network medium used today; a network interface adapter provides the interface that enables a computer to connect to a network; the network interface adapter and its driver implement the data-link layer protocol on the computer; hubs are devices that connect computers on a star or ring network.

Chapter 2 - Network hardware. The layered model that dominated data communication and networking literature before 1990 was the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. Everyone believed that the OSI model would become the ultimate standard for data communications - but this did not happen. The TCP/IP protocol suite became the dominant commercial architecture because it was used and tested extensively in the Internet; the OSI model was never fully implemented. In this chapter, we first briefly discuss the OSI model and then we concentrate on TCP/IP as a protocol suite.

In a prior edition of this book the preface commenced with the paraphrase of
an old adage in an era of evolving local area networking technology: Ethernet
is dead—long live Ethernet!
Although advances in communications technology continue to occur at a
rapid pace, that paraphrase continues to be valid. Within the past decade, the
bandwidth of 10 Mbps Ethernet was advanced by a factor of one thousandwith
the introduction of a series of enhancements to the original Ethernet specification.
First, Fast Ethernet resulted in the bandwidth of Ethernet increasing
by a factor of 10 to 100 Mbps.

This book is the product of over 15 years of working with RTT, delivering strategic
technology design programs for the cellular design community. This has included pro-
grams on AMPS/ETACS handset, base station, and network design in the early to
mid-1980s; programs on GSM handset, base station, and network design from the late
1980s to mid-1990s onward; and, more recently, programs on 3G handset, Node B, and
network design.

More complex networking services in Red Hat Linux require more advanced
administration methods. While graphical tools such as Network Configuration
(via the redhat-config-network command) are available to assist in configuring
all aspects of Linux networking, the best way to learn networking is by practicing with the key
command line utilities and associated configuration files.

Network management is the poor cousin of network design and implementation.
All too often it is treated as an inconvenience by equipment manufacturers, or
forgotten entirely. But the ability to manage network devices is fundamental to
their utility, and a successful and functional network can only be built from equipment
that can be easily managed and operated.
Management refers to the ability to confi gure, control, operate, and diagnose
equipment. Of course, no vendor ships devices that cannot be managed, but
typically each is operated and controlled in a different way.

One of the major goals of this book is to demystify the jargon of networks so that the reader gains a working familiarity with common networking terminology and acronyms.
In addition, this books explains not only how to choose and configure network hardware but also provides practical information about the types of network devices and software needed to make it all work. Tips and direction on how to manage an Ethernet network are also provided.

This book is now in its fifth edition. Each edition has corresponded to a different
phase in the way computer networks were used. When the first edition appeared
in 1980, networks were an academic curiosity. When the second edition
appeared in 1988, networks were used by universities and large businesses. When
the third edition appeared in 1996, computer networks, especially the Internet, had
become a daily reality for millions of people. By the fourth edition, in 2003, wireless
networks and mobile computers had become commonplace for accessing the
Web and the Internet.

An Introduction to Networking
List the advantages of networked computing relative to standalone computing
Distinguish between client/server and peer-to-peer networks
List elements common to all client/server networks
Describe several specific uses for a network
Identify some of the certifications available to networking professionals
Identify the kinds of nontechnical, or “soft,” skills that will help you succeed as a networking professional

Networking Standards and the OSI Model
Identify organizations that set standards for networking.
Describe the purpose of the OSI Model and each of its layers
Explain specific functions belonging to each OSI Model layer
Understand how two network nodes communicate through the OSI model
Discuss the structure and purpose of data packets and frames.
Describe the two types of addressing covered by the OSI Model.

Transmission Basics and Networking Media
Explain basic data transmission concepts, including full duplexing, attenuation, and noise
Describe the physical characteristics of coaxial cable, STP, UTP, and fiber-optic media
Compare the benefits and limitations of different networking media
Identify the best practices for cabling buildings and work areas
Specify the characteristics of popular wireless transmission methods, including 802.11, infrared, and Bluetooth

Topologies and Access Methods
Describe the basic and hybrid LAN physical topologies, and their uses, advantages and disadvantages
Describe the backbone structures that form the foundation for most LANs
Compare the different types of switching used in data transmission
Understand the transmission methods underlying Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, and ATM networks
Describe the characteristics of different wireless network technologies, including Bluetooth and the three IEEE 802.11 standards

Networking with UNIX-Type of Operating Systems
Describe the origins and history of the UNIX operating system
Identify similarities and differences between popular implementations of UNIX
Describe the features and capabilities of servers running Solaris, Linux, and Mac OS X Server
Explain and execute essential UNIX commands
Install and configure Linux on an Intel-based PC
Manage users, groups, and file access permissions in Solaris, Linux, and Mac OS X Server
Explain how computers running other operating systems can connect to UNIX servers...